Oscar-winning actress, and former Labour MP, Glenda Jackson is set to open a two-day conference at the University of Greenwich marking the 20th anniversary of Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today – a project improving dementia care in more than 16 countries.

The European Reminiscence Network has worked creatively with people affected by dementia, and their carers, helping them to share memories and celebrate long term relationships.

The conference is being staged at Queen Anne Court, Greenwich Maritime campus on Thursday 16 November and at The Old Baths, Bathway, Woolwich, on Friday 17 November.

It will feature talks and demonstrations showing how carers in different countries have found ways of using memories to help people with dementia improve their self-esteem, conserve their identity and celebrate their lives.

Organised by the university's Faculty of Architecture, Computing & Humanities, the conference is expected to attract a wide range of participants including representatives of voluntary, cultural and arts organisations, health and social care staff, care commissioners and service providers alongside students and researchers.

On the first day of the conference, there will be an exhibition of Memory Boxes from EU countries and taster performances by Greenwich students inspired by the contents of the boxes.

On the second day, talks and workshops led by the European Reminiscence Network will be followed by a full performance of reminiscence theatre.

Since the launch of Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today in 1997, more than 5,000 people have been involved in holding weekly meetings using drama, music, visual arts and dance to help people with dementia.

The project was recently awarded "success story" status by the European Commission.

In addition to celebrating its successes over the past 20 years, the conference will consider future developments against a backdrop of cuts to health and social care budgets.